Eagley and Turton 'Legends' go head to head in charity match

EAGLEY and Turton have arranged a special edition of one of football’s oldest derbies in memory of two of the clubs’ biggest stalwarts who died this year.

Former players from two of Bolton’s top amateur football teams will meet at Eagley Sports Complex next Monday.

The game is to mark the dedication and achievements of Martin Vizzard and Andrew Leece to and for the two clubs.

Mr Vizzard, who died recently from a brain tumour, was a former chairman of Turton while Mr Leece was a former player and boss of Turton and, more recently, former manager of Eagley reserves.

The match will raise money for charities to help sufferers of heart and brain illnesses.

It will kick off at noon and will feature a number of players who have been synonymous to the two clubs down the years. Paul Marriott, who managed Eagley to a historic hat-trick of trophies in his last year in charge last season, will return to manage the Eagley team for the day.

And he promised a match that will be worth watching between the two ‘Legends’ sides.

“It won’t be a friendly,” he said. “I have never lost to Turton and I am not going to start now.

“It’s amazing when you start trying to pick a team for this game how many players have played for both Eagley and Turton.

“They are two great traditional old clubs and it’s the oldest derby in the world.

“It is in memory of two men who have done so many important things for the two clubs and were so well known on the amateur football scene for what they did for the two clubs.”

There will also be a number of other attractions on a family fun day during the afternoon.